Getting past a cold sore is more difficult than moving on from a lost love. I wish this goddamn thing would heal already.

Last week was awesome, though! Even if the weather I was subjected to was partly to blame (tha goddamn heat in the Philippines is insane). I could write about it in the coming days but maybe not. Because I'm lazy. Or maybe because I'm still trying to hold on to it. Talking about it means I'm letting it go (?)

Following that line of thinking, this is a good idea I'm talking about this affliction. Nice to know you, goodbye!!!

I really don't intend to give a review or an actual book report 'cause I'm useful like that. Anyway, I really loved As She Climbed and Hitchhikers. I miss that kind of Science-y stuff--aliens, the earth being reduced to nothing, a boy-girl-void love affair--that kind of stuff.

I want to read the rest of the books in Adams' "a trilogy in five parts," so if you have copies of them, care to swap books? Care to point me in the direction of where I can buy them for cheap? (care to gift them to me because... because you have to haha). I kind of spazzed when I found out that Zaphod Beeblebrox and Ford Prefect were played by Sam Rockwell and Mos Def respectively in the screen adaptation. But I haven't seen the movie yet! Soon!

I goddamn seriously want to be a hitchhiker in the expanse of the galaxy!!! Is that too much to ask???

Electric Kool-Aid made me research the shit out of LSD, the psychedelic era, and Ken Kesey. Tom Wolfe is now one of my heroes 'cause despite the fact that the first seven chapters of his book made me want to throw up (seriously), I thought the book was veeery well-written even though it's supposed to be goddamn insane and day-glo and druggie and all that. I want to write in disarray but still make sense and create an "experience" effectively despite the chaos. Wow.

2nd Quarter goal: READ 8-10 BOOKS!
2nd Quarter goal nemesis: my iPod and the Fatify app that I can't seem to get tired of (late bloomer nga kasi, e).

I'm doomed.

Pink Beach; Canelar Barter Trade, Zamboanga City

Some people who bothered to talk to us (me, Ali, and Andrew) kept asking if we were there for a seminar or if we were visiting family. We always answered no, of course, and that we were on vacation. Their answer would always be "why?" or that smile of disbelief. I never really found out if they were happy or relieved or sad or worried about us being there because it isn't really a secret that some parts of Mindanao, including Zamboanga City, aren't the safest of places at the moment, which is sad (on second thought, where in the heck is it even safe these days?), which eventually led to our parents asking why we chose to visit Zamboanga, implying but obviously failing to sway us into staying put in the city.

So, why? Well, why the heck not? The truth is, we just wanted to. Plus, the tickets were on sale. So, we threw our worries and prejudices away. We wanted to see that beautiful pink beach, the vintas, the intricately patterned malong. Wanted to hear chavacano, the local dialect which consists of what they call broken Spanish, spoken to us by the locals. So, to Zamboanga City we went, feeling invincible, convinced that nothing can possibly happen. Right? Wrong.

...having the time to read (2 books, what up) and a reason to disconnect.

Being away from the internet for an indeterminate number of days (5, 6, 7, 8 days?), away from the blogs of people whose lives I want to live, is strangely refreshing. It's refreshing to not live out of the interests of others and to discover things for yourself or about yourself or who you were and what your particular interests were from non-personal media like magazines or books (that are relatively more remote than the internet). It's refreshing because you get to reflect on your own life and map out how you want to live it. Blah blah.

And to contradict this post, like I always do, I missed reading blogs slightly missed the internet therefore I shall read blogs and surf the web. Tomorrow. I see what I did there. You, reader, may have not. Boo

On second thought, I should keep up this disconnection 'cause it's funnn. And I get to read more books. Hehhh. Decisions decisions. But then I have a lot of things pending on this journal!!! Bahala na nga.

Favorite people. Photos by my cousin Anna

I will spare anyone reading this the drama and the litany of why I love this band, their music, everything, and how I am thankful to them for existing, and for finally, finally coming to Manila--something I thought would never happen. Again, dreams come true so I'll keep on.

My heroes.



When there's a burning in your heart
An endless yearning in your heart
Build it bigger than the sun
Let it grow, let it grow

xxx

I want to grow up already.

What happens at 5 p.m.; Pham Ngu Lao, Ho Chi Minh

What made me want to visit Vietnam was a comment from someone I know saying she liked the place because of the many trees that line the streets. Also, Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now (even though I know the latter was shot in the country where I live), some of my favorites, were movies based in Vietnam, and obviously are classics for a reason, hello. Furthermore, the food. THE FOOD. And of course for its history, again, hello. Two days were not enough.

Cheska and I in Sumaging Cave. Photo from our friend Kara.

Exactly a month ago I was in a cave, taking a dip in cold waters, trying my best not to freeze, while nursing a deep wound on my right big toe after trying not to slip as my friends and I try to make it out. Alive. It's only been a month but it feels like it's been ages since our time in Sagada. I miss it. I hate the city (sometimes). Everybody should, once in their life, visit this place which made me feel things I still cannot put into words.

Meanwhile, to appease my loneliness, my longing, here's a photo of Chris Owens as a kid:

You're welcome.